The Wanganui Road Rodders held their annual street drags over the weekend, and as always the turnout was huge.

Run on Taupo Quay, right in the centre of the CBD, the event always attracts a great crowd, as well as racers from around the lower North Island.

The race to watch was Daniel Southall’s nitrous powered small block Camaro against Gareth Lewis’s big power RX-7. Thankfully it was the Camaro that took the win.

Mild-mannered street car during the week, smoke-billowing race car on the weekends.

Rooted… would be the best way to describe how this 1969 RS/SS Camaro was when it came into Tristan Teki’s possession. But since it was an RS/SS and since the seller was a good mate who was willing to do a deal on it, an agreement was made and it soon changed hands.

Tristan has been playing with cars for as long as he can remember, and in his time he’s owned more old Holdens than he’d care to think about. Over the years he’s taught himself how to do pretty much everything car-related. From panelwork to fabrication to mechanical work, he can do the lot, and generally does so along with help from various mates. And since he’d developed the skills required to turn a car from a rust bucket to a race car, that’s exactly what he decided to do.

With help from fellow Wanganui Road Rodders member Dean Scott, the rusted-out floors were chopped out and new ones stitched in. Along with this came the replacement of both rear quarters, the rear valance panel and both doors. As if that wasn’t enough to put most people off, the panels that weren’t rusted out were dented, so not a single panel could be left untouched.  (more…)

Wanganui Road Rodders will celebrate 25 years of its annual eighth-mile street drags this weekend (22-24 January).

To mark the occasion a burnout competition will also be held for the first time. There will be a show ‘n’ shine on the Saturday with the burnout comp, while the Sunday will see the drags and on the Monday morning there will be a breakfast.

Registrations for the event have unfortunately closed, but spectators can expect a close view of the racing standing trackside or sitting in the grandstand. If you’re in the area be sure to head down to Taupo Quay in Wanganui to watch the action.